Automatic time-controlled operating mechanism.



AIPLICATIOH FILED JAN. 5, 1906. RENEWED JULY 22, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910. 4 sums-sum 1.

. GRAHAH \.0 Mom unwu 'J. M. OHAPPEL. AUTOMATIC TIME CONTROLLEDOPERATINGMEOBIANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1906. RENEWED JULY 22, 1909.

w m m mm mm P d w 6 f 4 M 9 .J. M. GHAPPEL. AUTOMATIC TIME CONTROLLEDOPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1906. RENEWED JUL Patented Jan. 18,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5 woewtoz J. M. G HAPPEL. AUTOMATIC TIME GONTROLLBD OPERATING MECHANISM.AYPLIOATION FILED JAN. 6, 1906. BENQBWED JULY 22, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. CHAPPEL, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC TIME-CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 5, 1906, Serial No. 294,735. Renewed July 22,1909.

Patented J an. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 509,065.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. CHAPPEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Time-ControlledOperating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in time-controlled mechanisms forautomatically operating at predetermined times, electric switches, andother devices, locking and unlocking doors of warehouses, stores, andreformatorics and other like institutions, and for controlling water,gas, or other supplies, the objects being to provide, first, anoperating mechanism of this character which is simple in construction,being composed of a minimum number of parts, and which is reliable andpositive in its action; second, means for preventing injury to theclockmechanism, which controls the action of the operating -mechanism,by jarring, or the blow caused by the action of the parts in operatingthe device to which the mechanism is connected; third, an operating mechanism of this character in which the action is positive, so that acomplete movement of the switch or other device will be insured, thuspreventing, in the case of the switch, the formation of an are, or whenused in connection with a water or gas supply, any leakage of gas, orwater, by a partial closing of the stop-cock or other controlling valve;fourth, an operating mechanism so constructed that it will be positivelylocked in its several positions until automatically released by theclock-mechanism; fifth, an ope *ating mechanism which is so constructedthat it is capable of ready attachment to various devices with which itmay be desired to use the same, and sixth, means for locking themechanism from operation without interfering with or disturbing theaction of the clock-mcchanism.

lVith the above object in view, the inven tion consists in the novelfeatures of construetion hereinafter fully described, particularlypointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanyingdrawing, in which I have illustrated my invention as applied to anelectric switch.

In said drawings,Figure 1 is a front elevation ofmy improved operatingmechanism, shown in connection with an electric switch of the bar type;Figs. 2, 3, and a, detail views of the tripping or releasing mechanism.carried by the clock-mechanism; Fig. 5, a rear elevation of my improvedoperat ing mechanism, the wall of the casing being removed to show thearrangement of the parts; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 7,a side elevation of my improved operating mechanism in connection withthe bar-switch, the positions of the link in effecting the swinging ofthe movable part of the switch to open the circuit being shown in dottedlines; Figs. 8 and 9, face views of the disk showing a modifiedconstruction to be used in connection with a snap-switch; Fig. 10, asectional view through the casing, showing the mechanism in connectionwith a snap-switch; Fig. 11, a view of a portion of the casing showingthe manner of wiring when my invention is used in connection with asnap-switch; Fig. 12, a face View of the removable plate with the stoplevers in position thereon, together with the device for preventingjarring of the clock-mechanism; Fig. 13, a face view of the disk used inthe operating device in connection with the bar-switch; Fig. 14:, anedge view of the same; Fig. 15, a top-plan view of the removable plate,the disk, stop-levers and other parts carried by said plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a-suitablecasing in closing the clock-mechanism and the switchoperating mechanismcontrolled thereby, said casing being divided into two compartments, 1and 1 to receive said mechanisms. The operating mechanism consists of adisk 2 rotatably mounted on the inner end of a shaft 3, which issupported by the wall of the casing and a plate 4; removably secured insaid compartment 1 and dividing the same into two compartments, 1 and lin the former of which, the disk and other coacting mechanism is placedand in the lat ter, a motor-spring 5, one end of which is attached tothe shaft, and the other to a suitable stud carried by the end wall ofthe easing. Attached to the shaft adjacent to said disk is aratchet-wheel 6, engaged by springpressed pawls 7 carried by the disk,whereby said disk is locked to the shaft during the rotation of thelatter in one direction and released therefrom upon rotation thereof ina reverse direction in winding the motorspring. The end of the shaftprojects from said casing and is squared to receive a key for windingsaid spring. Projecting from the outer face of said disk is a headed pinor stud 8 arranged eccentrically thereon, to which an operating-memberor link 9 is loosely connected by means of a slot 10 through which saidstud projects. The opposite end of this operating-member is connectedwith the switch or other device to be operated, an electric switch beingillustratcd.

he switch shown in Figs. 1 and 7, is a bar-switch, having the usualswinging part or contact 11, which is brought into and out of engagementwith the fixed part or contact 12, to make and break the circuit, and inadapting my invention to this form of switch, I attach to movable part11 near its pivotal end, a cross-bar 13 of insulating material,projecting centrally from which is a post 1% to which the opposite endof the operating-member or link is pivotally connectcd.

The movement of the movable part of the switch in opening or breakingthe circuit is limited by the contact of a projection 15 on the end ofthe link with the bottom-wall of the slot in the post 1i in which thelink is pivotally mounted, while the movement thereof in closing ormaking the circuit is limited by the contact of a stop 16 of insulatingmaterial secured to the movable part with the base on which said switchis mounted.

From the above description, it will be seen that the disk, during aportion of its rotation, will operate said link or member 5) to swingthe movable part of the switch in one direction and during the remainderof the rotation thereof. will operate said link to swing said movablepart in a reverse direction, the several positions of the link andmovable switch-partv being shown in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 7. Byreason of the pin-and-slot connection between the link and disk, inopening and closing the switch, the disk will rotate a certain distancebefore the pin or stud strikes against the end-wall of the slot, thusgiving to the link a sudden or hammer blow, by reason of which theaction is quick and positive. whereby arcing is absolutely impossible.Rotation of the disk in a reverse direct-ion is prevented by aleaf-spring 16 secured at one end to the plate 1, and bearing at itsopposite end against projections 17 formed on the disk.

Pivotally mounted intermediately of their ends in a suitable post orbearing 18 carried by plate l, are two stop-levers or members 19arranged parallel with each other, said members having notched portions20 on one side of their pivots, pressed normally by springs 21 toproject in the path of projections 17 and 17 to hold the disk fromrotation until tripped by the clockanechanism. said projections 17 and17 being arranged on the periphery of the disk on opposite sides of itscenter, projection 17 being disposed to engage the shoulder or notch ofone of the stop-levers and projection 17 the notch of the otherstop-lever. The opposite ends of said stop-levers project throughsuitable slots in the dividing wall of the easing into compartment 1,containing the time-controlling or clock-mechanism 22 which is of theeight-day type.

Rotatably mounted in the frame of the clock-mechanism, are shafts 23which at one end project through the dial 2 and carry small handscoacting 'ith smaller dials 26 upon the dial 21, which are marked withgraduations indicating hours and fractions thereof, one of these smallhands and its dial being used to setthe mechanism for opening theswitch, and the other for setting the mechanism to close the switch.These shafts are rotated to set the mechanism by means of knobs on theirprojecting end Loose on the opposite ends of said shafts are gears 25which mesh with the train of gears of the clock-mechanism, said gearshaving notched hubs 25, the notches of which are formed with inclined orcamwalls 26. The shafts are provided on their ends with projections 27which engage said notches of the hubs for the purpose presently to bedescribed. The notched hubs are normally held in engagement with theprojections 27 by a spring 28 secured at its central portion to theframe of the clockmechanism and bent outwardly adjacent to its ends tobear against the gears 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. These spring-armsat their outer ends are bent away from the gears and slotted to receivethe ends of spring detents 29 which at their opposite ends are connectedto the frame of the clockmechanism. The ends of said detents whichproject into the slots of the arms of the spring 28 are inclined to formcams, where by the movement of said arms to and from the frame of theclock-mechanism will effect the lateral movement of the detents to moveshoulders 30 formed thereon out of contact with the ends of stop-levers19 which, as before stated, project into compartment 1" of the casingand normally restagainst said shoulders, thus relcasing said levers andpermitting the operating mechanism to actuate the movableswitch-meml'ier. This movement of the spring-arms is effected at thetimes indicated by the hands 25 on the small dials, through the actionof the clock mechanism which actuat-es the gears 25',

during the rotation of which the coaction of the inclined or cam-wallsof the notches on the hub 25 with the projections 27 causes said gearsto move outwardly from the frame of the clock-mechanism which movementeffects a corresponding movement of the spring-arms. By thetrippinganechair ism above described, the triggers 19 are releasedinstantly without any jar or strain to the clock-mechanism.

From the above description, it will be seen that to set the mechanism,the two shafts are rotated until the hands carried thereby are broughtto the desired point upon the dials with which they coact. This bringsthe projections 27 carried by said shafts in such positions relative tothe notched hubs 25, that the stop-levers will be released'at the timesindicated. Assuming the switch to be closed, as illustrated in solidlines in Fig. 7, the stop-lever holding the disk from rotation will bereleased by the clock-mechanism at the time for which thetrippingmechanism controlling the stop-lever has been set. As soon asthe stop-lever has been released, by the tripping mechanism, said diskwill be rotated by the action of its spring, moving the link to theposition shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 7, as at This movement ofthe link will effect the movement of the swinging switch-member to openthe switch and break the circuit. At approximately the completion of themovement of the disk to effect the opening of the switch, the notch inthe other stoplever is engaged by the other projection 17 carried by thedisk and the latter held from further rotation, the opposite end of thestop-lever being in engagement with the shoulder 30 of the detent 29.The disk is thus held from rotation until the clockmechanism actuatesthe trippingmechanism for that stop-lever at the time for which it isset, and releases the same. As soon as said lever is released, the diskrotates and moves the link in a reverse direction to effect the closingof the switch, its rotation after the closing has been effected beingstopped by the cont-act again of the projection 17 carried thereby withthe notch in the other stop-lever.

It is apparent that the forward ends of the stop-levers being inengagement with the shoulders of the tripping mechanism when therotation of the disk is stopped by the contact of the projectionscarried thereby with the notches in opposite ends of said levers, therewould be a severe blow or jar to the clock-mechanism, which would injureit and render it inoperative. To prevent this, I mount upon a plate 4;,an intermediately-pivoted spring-pressed lever 31. having one of itsarms 81 bent to extend beneath said stop-levers when the lever is swungon its pivot in one direction, said lever constituting an anvil toreceive the blow or jar. For effecting the movement of this lever tobring it into position to receive said blow, I provide the disk withpins or studs 32 projecting from its inner face, which pins are sopositioned as to en gage the other arm 31 of the lever and effect themovement of the latter on its pivot to bring the anvil-end beneath thestop-levers just as the projections of the disk strike the shoulders ornotches in the latter.

For locking the operating-mechanism from operation without disturbingthe action of the clock-mechanism, I provide a locking member l9 mountedto slide on the plate 4:, and having one of its ends projecting from thecasing and provided with a suitable knob whereby it may be operated andformed at its opposite end with an arm to extend beneath thestop-levers, thus preventing the movement of the latter to release thedisk. The sliding locking-member, also, constitutes a stop when notlocking the stop levers for the purpose of limiting the upward movementof the levers.

When my improved operating mechanism is used in connection with a switchof the snap type as illustrated in Fig. 10, the link is dispensed with,and the disk provided on its outer face with two pairs of spacedprojections 33 to receive therebetween a bar 3-1- of insulating materialwhich is secured to the stem of the movable part of the switch in placeof the ordinary finger portion. The projections 17 and 17" areduplicated, for the reason that the snap-switch is operated by a quarterrevolution of the disk instead of a half-revolution as is the case witha bar switch. The projections or studs 32 car ried by the disk whichoperate the intermediately pivoted lever 81 are also necessarilyduplicated. The operation of the mechanism is exactly the same as in thefirst instance with the exception, of course, hat the disk effects theoperation of the movable part of the switch without the intervention ofthe link. The switch is placed within the casing containing theoperating mechanism and the wiring extended through suitable openings inthe casing.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7, where the banswitch is used, the casingcontaining the clock-mechanisi'n and the operating mechanism, and theswitch itself, may be secured to a single base.

As before stated, I do not limit the use of the invention to electricswitches, for the reason that the disk might be connected either throughthe medium of the link or by any other desired part or parts with thesliding belt of a lock in order to effect the movement of the same tolock or unlock ing especially useful in stores, warehouses, prisons. andother places. The disk may also be connected with the stop-cock or valveof a water, gas, or other supply, for the purpose of automaticallyturning the same on or ofl, at predetermined times. In either case, byreason of the pin-and-slot connection between the disk and the link, themovement of the part to be operated would be entirely completed, asbefore stated, thereby preventing in the case of a water or gas supply,any leakage, or in the case of a doorlock the partial movement of thebolt.

By reference to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the relative arrangement ofthe parts is such that it is impossible to effect the movement of thedisk by hand, from the exterior of the casing, so that the mechanism issecurely locked until automatically operated at the desired time.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedmember, a link operatively connecting said member with the device to beoperated, the connection between the spring-actuated member and the linkbeing a pin-and-slot connection, a stop-member holding said member frommovement, a detent holding said stop-member in engagement with thespring-actuated member, a clock-mechanism, and means actuated by theclock-mechanism at predetermined times for moving said detent to releasesaid stop-member.

2. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedmember, an operative connection between said member and the device to beoperated, means for normally holding said member from movement, aclock-mechanism, tripping mechanism normally engaging said holding meansactuated by the clock-mechanism at predetermined times for disengagingsaid holding means to release the said. spring-actu ated member, andmeans tor relieving the clock-mechanism from the blow or jar caused bythe engagement of the holding means with the spring-actuated memberafter the latter has eitected the movement of the device with which theoperating mechanism is connected.

In a time-controlled automatic operating-mechanism, a spring-actuatedmember, an operative connection between said member and the device to beoperated, means for normally holding said member from movement. aclock-mechanism, tripping mechanism normally engaging said holding meansactuated by the clock-mechanism at prede termined times for disengagingsaid holding means to release said spring-actuated a door. the inventionin this connection bei member, and means actuated by said springactuatedmember for relieving the clockmechanism from the blow or ar caused bythe engagement of the holding means with the spring-actuated memberafter the latter has effected the movement of the device with which theoperating mechanism is connected.

4. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedrotary disk, an operative connection between the same and the device tobe operated, intermediately-pivoted stop-levers having engaging-portionson one side of their pivots for alternately engaging and holding saiddisk from movement, a clock-mechanism, detents for engaging and holdingthe opposite ends of said levers, and tripping-mechanism actuated bysaid clock-mechanism at predetermined times to disengage said detentsfrom said levers.

In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedmember, an operative connection between the same and the device to beoperated, intermediately-pivoted stop-levers alternately engaging andholding said spring-actuated member from movement, a clock-mechanism,detents for engaging and holding said stoplevers in engagement with thespring-actuated member, tripping mechanism actuated at predeterminedtimes by the clock-mechanism to disengage said detents from thestop-levers, and a member moved by said spring-actuated member duringits movements to operate the device with which the mechanism isconnected in position to be engaged by the stop-levers as the latter areengaged by the spring-actuated member, to relieve the clock-mechanismfrom the blow or jar incident to this engagement of the parts.

6. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedmember, an operative connection between the same and the device to beoperated, intermediatelypivoted stop-levers alternately engaging andholding said spring-actuated member from movement, a clock-mechanism,detents for engaging and holding said stoplevers in engagement with thespring-actuated member, tripping mechanism actuated at predeterminedtimes by the clock-mechanism to disengage said detents from the stoplevers, and a swinging-member moved by said spring-actuated memberduring its movement to operate the device with which the mechanism isconnected in position to be engaged by the stop-levers as the latter areengaged by the spring-actuated member, to relieve the clock-mechanismfrom the blow or jar incident to this engagement of the parts.

7. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedmembcr,an operative connection between the same and the device to beoperated, stop-levers adapted to alternately engage and hold said springactuated member from movement, a clockmechanism, detents engaging andholding said stop-levers, tripping-mechanism actuated at predeterminedtimes by the clockmechanism to disengage said detents from the stoplevers, and a pivoted member moved by said spring actuated member duringits movement to operate the device with which the mechanism is connectedin position to be engaged by the stop-levers as the latter are engagedby the springactuated member, to relieve the clock-mechanism from theblow or jar incident to the engagement of the parts.

8. I11 a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, aspring-actuated rotary disk, an operative connection between said diskand the device to be operated, intermediately-pivoted stop-leversadapted to alternately engage and hold said disk from rotation, a clockmechanism, detents for engaging and holding said stop-levers inengagement with the spring-actuated disk, tripping mechanism actuated atpredetermined times by the clock-mechanism to disengage said detentsfrom the stoplevers, and an intermediately pivoted lever having an anvilportion adapted to be brought in position to be engaged by thestop-levers as the latter are engaged by the disk, and means carried bythe disk for engaging said lever and swinging the same to said positlonto receive the blow of the stop-levers.

9. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, a spring-actuatedrotary disk, an operative connection between said disk and the device tobe operated, springpressed intermediately pivoted stop levers formedwith notched engaging portions on one side of their pivots, projectionscarried by the disk adapted to alternately engage the notchedei'igaging-portions of said levers, a clock-mechanism, detents adaptedto engage and hold the opposite ends of said stoplevcrs, trippingmechanism actuated at pre determined times by the clock-mechanism todisengage said detents from the stop-levers, an intermediately pivotedlever having an end formed with an anvil portion, and projectionscarried by said disk adapted to engage said pivoted member and swing theanvil portion thereof in position to be engaged by the stop-levers atapproximately the moment of engagement of the projections of the diskwith the notched engaging ends of said levers, for the purpose ofrelieving the clock-mechanism from the blow or jar incident to theengagement of said levers with the disk.

10. In a time controlled automatic operating mechanism, aspring-actuated member, an operative connection between the same and thedevice to be operated, a stop-member engaging and holding saidspring-actuated member from movement, a detent engaging and holding ,aidstop-member in engagement with the spring-actuated member, aclock-mechanism, means actuated by the clock-mechanism at predeterminedtimes for moving said detent to release said stop-men'iber, said meanscomprising a shaft, a laterally movable gear loose thereon, meshing withthe gear of the clock-mechanism, coacting cams carried by said laterallymovable gear and its shaft for effecting the lateral movement thereof,and means actuated by the lateral movement of said gear for eifectingthe movement of the detent.

11. In a time-controller automatic operating mechanism, aspring-actuated member, an operative connection between said member andthe device to be operated, a stopmember normally engaging and holdingsaid spring-actuated member from movement, a detent engaging and holdingsaid stop-member in engagement with the spring-actuated member, aclock-mechanism, means actuated by said clockmcchanism for moving saiddetent to release said stop-member at predetermined times, comprising ashaft, a laterally-movable gear rotatable thereon meshing with the gearof the clock-mechanism, coacting cams carried by the laterally movablegear and shaft for efi'ecting the lateral movement thereof, a laterallymovable arm carrying said detent and formed with a camportion and aspring-member actuated by the lateral movement of said gear and coactingwith the cam-portion of said movable arm for effecting the movement ofthe detent.

12. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, aspring-actuated rotary disk, an operative connection between said diskand the device to be operated, intermediately pivoted stop-leversalternately engaging and holding said disk from rotation, detentsengaging and holding said stopmembers in engagement with thespringactuated disk, a clock-mechanism, means actuated by said clockmechanism at predetermined times for moving said detents to release thestop-lcvcrs comprising shafts, laterally movable gears rotatable thereonand n'ieshing with the gear of the clock-mechanism, coacting camscarried by the laterally movable gears and the shafts for effecting thelateral movement thereof, laterally mov able arms carrying said detentsand formed with cam portions, and a spring-member actuated by thelateral movement of said gears and co-acting with the cam-portions ofsaid movable arms for effecting the movements of the detents.

13. In a time-controlled automatic operating mechanism, the combinationWith a spring-actuated member, operative connection between said memberand the device to be operated, means for holding said member frommovement, of a clock-mechanism, means actuated by the clock-mechanism atpredetermined times for releasing said member, and means for locking thetimecontrolled operating-mechanism from operation with 10 out disturbingthe regular action of the clock-mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. CHAPPEL. lVitnesses H. E. \VlLLIAMS, R. ST. P. SMITH.

